LONG BEACH – At this point in the high school swimming season, it’s all about focus. And for some swimmers, next month’s Olympic Trials in Omaha, Neb.

Most competitors at Tuesday’s CIF-Southern Section Masters Meet at the Belmont Plaza Olympic Pool were already spent after helping their teams win, or try to win CIF-SS divisional titles last week. Their focus was already gone, or on to other things.

Glendora’s Gretchen Jaques managed to find that focus. So did Walnut’s Vincent Pai and La Ca ada’s John Geyer. Almost, but not quite there was Pasadena Poly’s Andrew Saeta, Flintridge Sacred Heart’s Andrea Kropp and Keppel’s Ryan Chiu; although their focus is on next month’s trials.

Jaques, a freshman, set a meet record in winning the 100 freestyle in 50.35 seconds. Pai earned a victory in the 100 breaststroke, and Geyer set a record in winning the diving competition.

There were 10 other meet records, and Saeta and Kropp lost their records, Saeta in the 100 backstroke and Kropp in the 100 breaststroke.

“I’m really excited, especially since I am only a freshman,” Jaques said of her 100 free record. “I thought I could do it, based on my qualifying time. I was pulling to get it this year. Before the season, I wanted to get to the finals and Masters. I’m really relieved that I did it, and I hope to do better next year.”

Jaques finished second in the 50 free in 23.48, with Madison Fitzgerald of Downey’s Calvary Chapel winning in 23.40.

Kropp lost her meet record in the 100 breaststroke. She finished third to Hart’s Jordan Danny, who had a time of 1 minute, 2.19 seconds, beating Kropp’s record time of 1:03.80. Mater Dei’s Melissa Bates swam a 1:02.65, and Kropp finished third in 1:03.23 – also under last year’s time. Kropp was the only swimmer in the final race to improve on her time.

“I’m a little disappointed, not because I didn’t win, but it’s the record I’m disappointed about,” the sophomore said. “My finish wasn’t that disappointing.”

Saeta and Tony Cox of Alemany had an inspiring rematch in the 100 backstroke. Cox, who was edged out by Saeta in the division finals, won in 49.59, going faster than Saeta’s time of 50.38 last season.

Saeta, who rallied in the final yards, swam a 49.80 and La Ca ada’s Ian Mirisola was third in 51.33.

“Tony Cox is a great swimmer and I love the competition against him,” Saeta said. “The record is not that important. The CIF finals record is more important. I’m just happy to go under 49. I was glad to do that.”

Pai won the 100 breaststroke in 56.58, six one-hundreths of a second faster than his finals time. He edged Paul John Gabayeron of Cerritos, who had a 57.63.

“It was really close,” Pai said. “I saw him, and he’s got longer arms than me, so I really had to get there.”

La Ca ada’s Geyer won the diving title with a meet-record 362.80 points. He finished second in this meet last year and won a division title last week.

Charter Oak’s Ethan Bradley and La Ca ada’s Mirisola both had second-place finishes and Keppel’s Chiu had a pair of thirds.

Bradley was second in the 500 free in 4:34.29, well behind Charlie Rimkus of Beckman, who swam a 4:25.77.

Chiu was third in 4:35.97 with San Marino’s Timothy Lin fifth in 4:40.11. Nolan Koon of Oaks Christian won the 200 individual medley in 1:50.71 with Mirisola in 1:50.89 and Saeta fourth in 1:53.24.

“I was a little tired,” Mirisola said. “I definitely had been tapering for the finals, and I didn’t swim Sunday and hardly swam (Monday). I’m happy and it definitely was a good result for me.”

Chiu was also third in the 200 free in 1:42.29.

Kropp was also second in the 200 IM to Chaminade’s Meghan Hawthorne, who swam a meet record 2:01.18. Kropp swam a 2:02.28.

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